Don’t overlook this as a food source—many fish benefit from eating plants and algae. This particular plant grows rapidly enough to support a harvest-by-eating method.
With sufficient light, a small culture of this plant can cover the surface of a tank in just a couple of weeks. We usually provide enough to comfortably cover a 5-gallon tank. If you’re raising fish that enjoy nibbling on plant material, like some Rift Lake Cichlids or Goldfish, you might notice them feasting on the trailing roots until they’re nearly gone. But don’t worry—the roots typically regrow within a few days.
At the hatchery, we cultivate several types of duckweed, but the variety most favored by fish is a small, fast-growing one that thrives under a range of conditions—none of which need to be perfect. The main challenge with this plant is its ability to quickly outgrow any demand. Additionally, when it covers the water’s surface, it can give fruit flies and springtails a chance to escape the water, which isn’t ideal.
Beyond being a nutritious food source for certain fish, this plant also provides a habitat for livebearer fry and offers shade for light-sensitive species.